Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series #55: The Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge in Melville
The 55th bridge in the series documenting the 60 bridges built by the Long Island Motor Parkway is the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge, just west of Maxess Road in Melville.
The bridge was built in 1910 to connect the north and south sections of the 44-acre farm of Ezekiel Smith which was entirely bought by the Long Island Motor Parkway.
Because the abutments of this bridge are still standing, it is one of the most visited Motor Parkway landmarks.
May 1910 Survey
An outline of the farmway bridge was drawn on this 1910 survey. The bridge also connected the north and south sections of the John Baker properties.
1928 Motor Parkway Atlas
The notation on the Atlas read:
Total Area: 44.323 acres
Parkway Strip: 5.4 acres
Salvage: 37.923 acres
1928 Aerial
A spectacular aerial of Bethpage and Melville. The Motor Parkway crosses approximately in the middle of the aerial.
A close-up shows the farmway bridge.
This watercolor may be the faarmway bridge looking west. The bridge copy reads: "No Parking West of Huntington Lodge."
1955 Aerial
The farmway bridge can be seen between the Broad Hollow Road Bridge and the Ruland Road Bridge.
2003
In 2003, the bridge was covered with brush and the embankments were still intact.
2005
The bridge was "preserved" in 2004 by the neighboring company Oxford Management.
The bridge after being cleaned. Courtesy of Art Kleiner.
The bridge after the embankments were removed. Courtesy of Art Kleiner.
The date on the bridge remains intact. Courtesy of Art Kleiner.
2015
David and Sam Russo at the farmway bridge.
Check out Wayne Consolla's online Motor Parkway map, to find the location of the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge.
Comments
I haven’t been over this way in a while. With Dave and Sam next to one of the abutments, it’s size is impressive.
Why is it called the Ezekiel Smith Farmway Bridge if it connects the John Baker properties?
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From Howard Kroplick
Wayne, great question! According to my favorite co-author Al Velocci, Smith’s entire farm was purchased by the Motor Parkway to obtain the right-of-way. The farmway bridge was built to connect the north and south sections of Smith’s former farm so that the Motor Parkway could lease out the unused sections
If you walk past the bridge you can actually see the original pavement from the Motor Parkway. They are building a new development there. I hope they keep the bridge intact. it’s fascinating.